When you want to prevent maintenance problems you don’t want to second guess the equipment you’re using. That’s why it’s worth purchasing items from market leaders, even if the price tag is higher than expected.
We researched the FLK-TiS45, one of Fluke’s models, to see if this was one of the worthwhile buys in terms of thermal imaging equipment. Glance through our feedback to see if this will be your next investment so you can easily locate potential sources of concern such as faulty wiring, HVAC issues, and mold or moisture problems.
For starters, it makes sense for both home owners and professionals to consider.
Fluke - An Introduction:
It’s important you consider who you’re buying this advanced technological equipment from for two reasons:
- You must know that your thermal camera is top quality
- Hopefully you’ll get great after sales service if it’s a well established company that won’t simply deny your warranty claim on a technicality when you need them most
Fluke doesn’t disappoint when you do its background check. This company has been around since 1948, creating testing equipment for various industries. It kept up with changes in the market and as a subsidiary of the Fortive Corporation, it has global influence today. Reaching more than 100 countries, the brand is known for rugged products that are easy to use and they maintain high quality levels in all their products.
It’s safe to say Fluke’s wide range caters for almost any application, but you have to see if the TiS45 is the one for you. This is what you can expect from it this lower range thermal camera.
FLK-TIS45 Specifications:
Fluke’s TiS45 is one of the lower end models in their infrared camera range. Therefore, you’ll find more advanced models too, but this item’s characteristics are still impressive. The numbers at a glance are:
At first glance a major difference between this and some other models is the temperature range. The brand does have more advanced models such as the FLUKE TiS75 that can measure even higher temperatures; however for home owners and some light commercial use the TIS45's temperature range is adequate.
You also can’t record videos with this one, but that’s not a necessity for all users, which makes this a smart budget buy for some customers. There are still many commercial or domestic niches that benefit from what this model can provide.
Features of the FLK-TIS45:
You’re bound to love the TiS45 for the extra features that make it so much easier to get the work done. Instead of only looking at the 3.5” screen to determine heat spots, you can rely on color alarms. They will sound for both low and high temperatures so you know when you located a problem area.
Its user friendliness is enhanced by how you can customize your usage. You can pick from multiple palettes, based on how you prefer looking for problems:
- Ironbow
- Blue-Red
- High contrast
- Amber
- Amber inverted
- Hot metal
- Grayscale
- Grayscale inverted
We all have preferences and Fluke succeeds in catering to many of them.
You’ll view these palettes on a 3.5” screen which is a 320x240 LCD display. This is large enough and clear enough to help you see details. The pictures created by the thermal images and camera will be displayed with a resolution thermal resolution of 160x120. Yes, you’re bound to find models with better resolution, but this is more than sufficient for home use, or for some professionals.
What we love about this Fluke range: Fluke uses its IR-Fusion AutoBlend technology to blend the visible light images with infrared images. This makes it clearer to identify exactly where the problem lies. Fluke's AutoBlend feature is similar to FLIR's MSX technology.
There’s also a picture-in-picture mode where you place the infrared window inside the digital image. That makes it easy to see points of interest. You’ll know exactly where the heat spots are on the surface you’re looking at. The manual focus system makes this even more dynamic and the device even works when you’re quite a distance from the problem area.
If you do pick this one for your business you’ll need to do reporting, right? Fluke incorporated its dynamic reporting options - which you’ll find in high end units - in this model too. You have various options to choose from:
- Store your images on the device (there’s 4GB memory, as well as a 4GB SD card slot)
- Download the data via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- Email your report (done on Fluke’s SmartView analysis & reporting software) directly from the device to a client or a superior
- Upload it to Fluke’s Connect server for safe keeping
There’s no question: This brand researched what would be beneficial to their customers and it provides a range of options to cater for them.
Applications:
Which customers are we referring to? The niches vary:
- Because this is a lower end model (if compared to the TiS75) this is a more viable, budget thermal camera for home owners that want to upgrade general maintenance equipment. It’s so handy to have this in your tool box: If you suspect a problem you don’t have to call professionals; you can locate problems on your own to save money.
- For use in your industry, such as HVAC, electrical work, building maintenance or plumbing, this is a smart option. If you simply want to enhance the service you provide, without spending money on features you’ll never really use.
It may take a while to get used to all the features, but manuals are available.
PROS:
CONS:
Final Thoughts
We can see why more than 60% of users give this model great reviews. The TiS45 caters to many different niches, especially those that aren’t interested in or need too many high tech features.
If you need to locate moisture or electrical problems via heat spots, this is your solution at home and in your professional capacity. Yes, there are more impressive models on the market. No, you shouldn’t look any further, because this one showcases an excellent balance of features. Are you also getting one today?
